Showing 1-24 of 24 items found in Events

March 16, 2015 - Bluegill Music Festival will lunch its inaugural event on July 4, 2015 for a one-day festival packed with some of country music's hottest acts. The all-day festival will be complete with Southern Illinois' largest fireworks display, along the shores of the Rend Lake Dam, in Benton, IL. The lineup includes Eli Young Band, LoCash, Clayton Anderson and more exciting acts to be announced. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, March 20th and can be purchased at www.bluegillfest.com and at Black Diamond Harley Davidson. Drawing fans from around the country, including Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, the festival is at the intersection of some of the nation's most dedicated country music fans. Bluegill Music Festival will feature nationally recognized BBQ vendors from around the country. Interactive entertainment for fans will also include activations, like: bags, washers, bubble soccer, Illinois longest slip n' slide, helicopter rides from Black Diamond Harley Davidson, a mechanical bull, a kids area with a large inflatable slide and the "Bluegill Lagoon", featuring a 60 x 100' VIP beach, with cabanas, private wading pools & lounge area. Additionally, Southern Illinois' largest fireworks display will begin at 9:30pm, and is free for all guest.

This Festival began in 1997 and continued to grow and expand with new events and excitement for participants of all ages. A Celtic cultural celebration with special concerts, fairs with music, dance workshops & demonstrations, Celtic arts & crafts, and merchandise, children’s activities. This year's Southern Illinois Irish Festival will be hosted by Walkers Bluff. This new venue provides a picturesque location just northwest of Carterville, Illinois.

The 26th Annual Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days will be held at John A Logan College. It is the largest celebration of Hunting and Fishing Day in the country. This 200+ vendor show offers something for the whole family. Bass Fishing and Crappie seminars, catfish contest, Goose calling contests, Dock Dogs competitions, retriever demonstrations and a kids fishing hole are just a few of the activities throughout the weekend.

This annual Christmas celebration encompasses the entire downtown area of Carterville. Santa and his helpers will be on hand for photos. There will be hot chocolate and cookies, caroling, chili supper, gingerbread contest, festival of trees, Sugar Plum Dance Fairies, face painting, Candy Land Path, Horse and Carriage rides and much much more. This event is held in downtown Carterville.

Walker's Bluff is delighted to announce that we will be "Turning the lights down low" on Saturday, August 8th when Josh Turner takes stage at Legend's Amphitheater. Joshua Turner is an American contemporary country music singer and actor. In 2003, he signed to MCA Nashville Records. That same year, his debut album's title track, "Long Black Train", was his breakthrough single release. His second album, Your Man (2006) accounted for his first two number one hits: "Your Man" and "Would You Go with Me," while 2007's Everything Is Fine included a No. 2 in "Firecracker." Haywire, released in 2010, produced his biggest hit, the No. 1 "Why Don't We Just Dance" and another number one in "All Over Me". It was followed by Punching Bag (2012), whose lead-off single "Time Is Love" was the biggest hit of 2012 according to Billboard Year-End.

Celebrate the pepper harvest from 11am to 5pm, A favorite gathering for all chile heads and hot pepper fans. Walk the pepper field and see many varieties of hot peppers in bloom, meet the vendors and see who makes the best hot/spicy food, visit the Pepper Farm Store and select your favorite salsa, jellies, spices and pepper products, relax, visit with friends, enjoy great local music and soak in great southern Illinois pepper heat. 618-893-1443. www.darnhotpeppers.com

Celebrate the local peach harvest, sponsored by the Cobden Lions Club. Join us for fresh peaches from local orchards, carnival rides and games, crowning of ‘Miss Peach Queen’, homemade food and peach cobbler & pie with a 5K run/walk and parade on Saturday. Free admission.

This fun Fall destination features mazes, inflatable games, face painting for the little ones, and hayrides. Grab a snack from the concession stand (try the sweet rock candy) before heading home with the perfect pumpkin. (open Oct. 1-30, 9am-6pm)

Black Vultures and turkey vultures fly and swoop in the skies surrounding Makanda each fall. Local residents await their return each fall as an end to the hot summer and the beginning of cooler fall weather. This event is a celebration of the Vulture’s annual migration with live music and displays by local artists for purchase. Come join the celebration and see this awesome unique event as these birds return.

Visit downtown Makanda, Gateway to Giant City State Park, where black vultures and turkey vultures fly and swoop in the skies each fall. This event is a celebration or the vulture's annual migration with live music and displays by local artists for purchase.

Marion proudly presents a parade to honor all Southern Illinois veterans. Over 17 bands will march & perform (awards to be given) plus floats and over 1000 veterans from all branches of service will ride or march. Entertainment and food at Fairgrounds. The annual Veterans on Parade is being held to honor all the men and women veterans throughout Southern Illinois, who have ever served our country in both war and peacetime. For more information contact Ed Davis at 618.993.3379 or email etdvita1@mchsi.com

A weekend long event sponsored by the Youth Outdoor Education Foundation and the Williamson County Tourism Bureau. The show features boats, trailers, trucks, ATVs, fishing tackle, live entertainment and more. Admission and parking is free. Great fun for all ages.

Fly With The Eagles Half Marathon is organized by the River to River Runners Club and is the club's first race on the calendar each year, coming in the late winter season for a cold-weather half marathon that takes runners along the roads and trails of the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.

This Annual AKC Dog Show boasts many additional amenities. Sign up to bring your dog to the hearing clinic or get their nails trimmed while you wait. Over 100 breeds will try to make it to the Best In Show ring. There will also be vendors of dog treats, toys, beds, blankets and more.

Buy a dress, pick out flowers, and find a photographer all in one place. Over 100+ vendors to choose from all under one roof. This annual event is presented by River Radio and held at The Pavilion of the City of Marion.

Crab Orchard is home to six nesting pairs of resident bald eagles and their offspring. A few nesting sites are visible from public roads throughout the Refuge and eagles are spotted daily. Guided tours visit eagle nests and areas of the Refuge where eagles may be spotted. The cost is $5 for adults and $2.50 for youth under the age of 12, and reservations are required.

Crappie USA will hold one of the 2015 Super Tournaments on Lake of Egypt in Marion, IL. This will be a guaranteed payout of $10,000 and prizes. The tournament starts at 6:30am and will run until 3pm with a weigh-in at 4pm.

The Murphysboro Apple Festival is the oldest and largest, alcohol-free festival in Southern Illinois. Over 45,000 people attend the festival each year. During the five days of the Apple Festival, there are numerous activities drawing large crowds such as evening stage shows, carnival/concessions, Queen Contest, Prince and Princess Contest, contests from apple pie eating to apple core throwing, firefighters' water fights, marching band competition, car shows, Appletime 5K Walk/Run and much more. In addition, the festival's Grand Parade is one of the largest parade in Southern Illinois. The parade features an average of about 160 total units, 25 of those marching bands, and a variety of groups and organizations.

They come from miles around and from out of state for the fish fry, for the barbeque, for dancing and fun at this annual event, which is held at 17th & Pine Streets. Thursday the Fish Fry buffet is at 5:30pm – 8pm, $16 at the door. DJ starts at 8pm. Fish Fry & Wing Contest awards at 9pm. On Friday, the Grand Champion Buffet is at 5:30pm – 8pm, $22 at the door, and Band & Street Dance 8pm-12 midnight. A new event for Friday evening is the People’s Choice BBQ & Sauce Contest judging from 5:30 to 8pm. Saturday the judging begins at 10am. KCBS Great American BBQ Tour demos throughout the day. All judges are MBN & KCBS certified. The Awards Ceremony is at 6pm. Sponsored by 17th Street Bar & Grill. http://www.17thstreetbarbecue.com